RIM gets hit with a lawsuit, just the latest bad news for the company.
Research in Motion

Research In Motion got slapped with a patent lawsuit by NXP Semiconductors, Reuters reported today.

The lawsuit deals with patents that relate to design, data transmission, and other features found on RIM's BlackBerry smartphones and PlayBook tablet, Reuters said.

A RIM representative declined to comment to CNET.

It's just the latest problem for RIM, which last week reported another set of disappointing quarterly results as its BlackBerry continues to cede market share to its competitors. RIM shook up the company's management team and opened the door to explore options, including partnerships, licensing deals, and even a sale, as it looks to regain its footing in the mobile device business.

RIM's legal problem isn't unique. Nearly every major mobile device player is involved with one suit or another, including tangles between Apple and Samsung and another one involving Google and Oracle.

The company also previously settled its own patent suit with NTP, paying more than $600 million to cover patents that were related to its messaging technology.

About the author

Roger Cheng is the executive editor in charge of breaking news for CNET News. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade. He's a devoted Trojan alum and Los Angeles Lakers fan.
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